Journey To The ResurrectionSample

"Good Friday” may originally have been called "God's Friday," but people were unwilling to speak the Lord's name in public, substituting "Good" for "God." 

Let's remember what happened to make this day so "good" for us.

Jesus likely died on a crux immissa, a tall, upright beam with a shorter crosspiece (Matthew 27:37). If the Romans wanted the victim to die most quickly, they drove nails through the wrists and heels. If they wanted the victim to suffer, they tied his arms to the cross and drove nails through his palms. 

The victim's weight would crush the lungs, requiring him to push up on his impaled feet and arms to breathe. Soldiers would then sometimes break their legs, requiring the victim to pull his weight up on his impaled wrists. The nerves in his arms would quickly become deadened so he could no longer pull himself up. He would then suffocate and die.

At Jesus' crucifixion, "from the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land" (v. 45). Darkness was one of the plagues in Egypt; people in the ancient world considered it an omen of fearsome events to come. The darkness lasted from noon until 3 p.m. 

Three hours later, "About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?'—which means, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'" (v. 46). Finally, "when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit" (v. 50). 

His "loud" cry may have been when "Jesus called out with a loud voice, 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.' When he had said this, he breathed his last" (Luke 23:46). However, John may give us Jesus' last words: "When he had received the drink, Jesus said, 'It is finished.' With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit" (John 19:30).

The entirety of Jesus' arrest, condemnation, and execution took place by His permission. At any point, He could have fled the authorities, exposed the mockery of His trial, or saved Himself from execution. 

So know this: We are the ones responsible for His death. We are the reason He gave His life. God knew His only begotten Son would die for you before He made you. From Eden.

Never again wonder if you are loved. 

This is the Good Friday invitation of God.